DOTTEREL. 
CIIARADRIUS MORINELLUS. 
This interesting species is a summer visitor to the British Islands, arriving on our south coasts in 
April or early in May, and after rearing its young on the lonely mountain-tops of several of the highest 
ranges in the northern counties, taking its departure from our shores before cold weather has set in. Tlie 
Dotterel has of late years either greatly decreased in numbers or totally disappeared in many localities 
Tvhere it was formerly abundant j there are, how'ever, still a few remote districts to which the birds annually 
resort on the approach of summer. The nest is by no means difficult to find *, and the small parties of old 
birds on their first arrival evince such an utter disregard of their natural enemies, that there is little 
w'onder that this species, wffiich invariably attracts attention wTien met wdth, has been gradually almost exter- 
minated. Were it not that the remaining haunts are situated near the hill-tops (in most instances in wuld 
and lonely districts, where their presence is unknown to all, except some wandering keeper or shepherd), 
it is probable that the few survivors would long ago have been sw^ept from the British Islands. 
On their first arrival from across the Channel, Dotterel in former days invariably passed some time on 
the South Downs, wuthin a few miles of the coast, before resuming their journey towards the nortli. 
Certain open spots along the range of hills (free from furze bushes or other cover) jiossesscd peculiar 
attractions, and here at the accustomed date the birds might be looked for to the day, though the downs 
for miles on either side w'ere but seldom visited. Since 18G7 I have lieard of but one or two small 
parties (“ trips,” I believe, is the correct name) being noticed in this locality, though up till that date 
they not unfrequently rested for a few days during spring on the ranges of the South Downs. 
The last flock of Dotterel that came under my observation was seen passing over the dowms near 
Brighton early in September 1880 ; the birds were flying west, following a course taken by Golden 
Plover, "Whimbrel, and other Waders at the season of migration. In the Highlands I never noticed 
Dotterel later than the end of the first week in September ; about the beginning of August they w^ere 
usually met in small parties consisting of from eight or ten individuals to double that number. 
On no occasion did I ever recognize this species at a low elevation on the hills, the quarters they 
frequent appearing to lie far above the range of the Golden Plover. Their nearest feathered neighbours 
are doubtless the Ptarmigan, though these birds for the most part during summer resort to the more 
rocky portion of the hill-side. While making their w^ay from one mountain-top to another, I remarked that 
this species invariably held a course at a considerable elevation across the intervening glens. Flocks of 
Golden Plover, if pursued in stormy w'eather, often swept down into the mosses in some sheltered 
come, though the Dotterel, w'hen alarmed, after flying round for a time, w^ould at last strike boldly out for 
• In making this assertion I am aware that my experience dififers from that of the majority of observers. I have only on two occasions 
Bought for nests containing eggs, and both, after waiting and watching for an hour or two, were discovered, patience and a slight knowledge of 
the habits of the birds being all that is needed to insure success. 
